NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College baseball program opened a three-game MAAC weekend series this afternoon at City Park with a pair of one-run setbacks, 5-4 and 1-0, to league foe Canisius College.
Game One
The Griffs (28-18, 11-6 MAAC) created an early lead in the first inning with three runs on three hits and two errors. A Jake Lumley walk followed by two walks loaded the bases for Christ Conley to draw a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to bring in the first run.
The second run of the inning scored on a fielder's choice from Liam Wilson as Ryan Stekl touched home after a throwing error. Conley also later scored on a throwing as only one earned run was charged to Bill Maier.
The Gaels (17-20, 10-7 MAAC) earned one run back in the bottom half of the frame as Brian Picone and Fran Kinsey led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After advancing to third on a fly ball from Sean Breen, Picone scored on a RBI single to left field from Lou Matarazzo.
Canisius loaded the bases once again in the third inning and tallied two runs out of the opportunity. Conley scored the opening run off a Stephen Bennett single, however on the same play, Wilson was thrown out at home by Seth Hoagland. Mark McKenna later scored the fifth run of the game and third unearned run on a throwing error during a sacrifice bunt from Jake Burlingame.
The Maroon & Gold loaded the bases for an opportunity in the sixth as Matarazzo led the inning off with a triple and later scored on a Matt Byrne sacrifice fly.
Trailing 5-2 in the ninth, Tyler Bruno started the inning with a single up the middle before advancing to second on a balk and third on a single from Hoagland. With runners on the corner and one out, Kinsey picked up a RBI with single through the right side.
After Matarazzo walked with two outs to load the bases, Niko Switalla drew a pinch hit, bases loaded walk to bring the Gaels within 5-4. However, Tyler Smith earned his ninth save of the game with a strikeout to end the contest.
Matarazzo led the Iona offense with a 3-for-3 performance along with a RBI and a run. Kinsey added two hits and a RBI. On the mound, Maier tossed seven innings with two strikeouts in the effort.
For Canisius, J.P. Stevenson moved to 8-3 on the year with seven innings of work behind four strikeouts. Smith earned his ninth save despite allowing a hit and two walks by striking out two. Offensively, Conley scored twice while McKenna tallied two of the team's seven hits.
Game Two
Canisius scored the lone run of the seven-inning nightcap during a two-hit third innings. The scoring rally started with two outs as Liam Wilson doubled to left center and then scored on a single up the middle by Lumley.
The one run was all the support needed by Andrew Sipowicz as the sophomore finished the complete game, seven-inning shutout with one hit allowed. Additionally, Sipowicz only struck out one batter as he produced 14 fly outs and six ground outs.
In the effort, Joe DeRosa pitched 6.2 strong innings of work with four strikeouts. Andrew Camiolo produced a fly out for the final out of the seventh inning. Byrne picked up the only hit of the game for Iona, an infield single in the bottom of the third.
Looking ahead, the two team conclude the weekend series Sunday afternoon at 12:00 pm from City Park.
